How to Improve England

“We have the talent and passion, but it’s those little nuances and mental stuff that we need. Like learning from other countries what they do well and speaking to other coaches,”

“We can maybe not be so robotic. I’ve learned from Adam Thomson and Andrew Hore at the Highlanders that, bar knowing what foot they kick off and their basic pattern, they don’t know anything about the opposition.

“They just worry about their game plan. You can become caught up in talking about your opposition too much.”

“Stuart has made it like the All Blacks - the shirt is not yours, you have to fight for it and I’m happy to fit in with that.”

Super Rugby’s influence

“One of the things I’ve learned from playing Super 15 rugby alongside All Blacks like Andrew Hore and Adam Thomson is that they worry about themselves and what they’re going to do, to the extent that they don’t really know who they’re playing against. With all the video analysis we do these days, you can almost think yourselves out of a game before you start. As a nation, we’ve often made the mistake of talking up the opposition too much.”

Small Percentages

“The difference is in small percentages and in things that aren’t so tangible. I hope I’m more consistent and my game understanding is better,” he said.

Mentality

“They have a very attacking mentality in New Zealand, they get a lot of quick ball and it’s all about one-on-one battles and pace and speed. If they can beat their opposite number, then it’s a try.”